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knormlaver

Mini Gastric Bypass Patients
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  1. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from GreenTealael in Do any of the bypass folks with they'd gone with a sleeve?   
    I originally wanted a sleeve; however, the surgeon strongly recommended a mini gastric bypass owing to my history of insulin resistance (PCOS, gestational and prediabetes). I heeded his advice; however, am now dealing with significant reactive hypoglycemia. This results from carbohydrates being rapidly absorbed causing immediate high blood sugars and then rapid reactive lows. These lows can be unpleasant and sometimes scary. I'm now on a drug that slows the absorption of carbs, but I have to take it every time I eat and there are some unpleasant side effects. So while I'm generally happy with the results of my surgery (I'm within 5 pounds of my goal), in my situation I do wish I'd gone with the sleeve.
  2. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from GreenTealael in Do any of the bypass folks with they'd gone with a sleeve?   
    I originally wanted a sleeve; however, the surgeon strongly recommended a mini gastric bypass owing to my history of insulin resistance (PCOS, gestational and prediabetes). I heeded his advice; however, am now dealing with significant reactive hypoglycemia. This results from carbohydrates being rapidly absorbed causing immediate high blood sugars and then rapid reactive lows. These lows can be unpleasant and sometimes scary. I'm now on a drug that slows the absorption of carbs, but I have to take it every time I eat and there are some unpleasant side effects. So while I'm generally happy with the results of my surgery (I'm within 5 pounds of my goal), in my situation I do wish I'd gone with the sleeve.
  3. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from danay in Anyone 5' 1"? Low starting bmi? Care to share?   
    I was about 220lb and 5'2'' prior to my MGB last September. I look fine and feel good around 150lb and since this is my 2nd go round with WLS (I had a lap-band reversal in 2016 due to malfunction- regained a bunch of weight), I knew that the weight wouldn't come off as fast or as easy. I'm also in my mid 40's. So my goal is pretty conservative. The surgeon made my pouch pretty "generous," so I can eat a relatively decent amount of food (at least a cup almost from the get-go). However, my diet needs to be something that I can live with in the long term and life with food is good for me now. I eat a healthy diet (which I never could with lap-band), avoid simple sugars (I've been having issues with reactive hypoglycemia and I'm also a "dumper") and I continue to exercise 5-6 days/week as I've done for the past 12 years. My advice is to not worry about charts and BMI's. See where you're body leads you and think of the long game. We know that dieting and restriction doesn't work in the long term and usually eventually leads to regain. You need to find a way of eating that is liveable for you.
  4. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from Frustr8 in Regrets???   
    I'll admit that I'm having a few. I am dealing with some serious reactive hypoglycemia 5 months post op. I had the surgery to avoid diabetes. Now when I eat, my blood sugar spikes (even with careful avoidance of simple sugars etc) and then drops dangerously low about 2 hours after meals. I'm learning that this is a more common consequence of gastric bypass than I initially thought. I had originally wanted a gastric sleeve, but the surgeon felt mini gastric bypass was a better option for someone who is prediabetic. I was not warned about this potential complication.
  5. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from danay in Anyone 5' 1"? Low starting bmi? Care to share?   
    I was about 220lb and 5'2'' prior to my MGB last September. I look fine and feel good around 150lb and since this is my 2nd go round with WLS (I had a lap-band reversal in 2016 due to malfunction- regained a bunch of weight), I knew that the weight wouldn't come off as fast or as easy. I'm also in my mid 40's. So my goal is pretty conservative. The surgeon made my pouch pretty "generous," so I can eat a relatively decent amount of food (at least a cup almost from the get-go). However, my diet needs to be something that I can live with in the long term and life with food is good for me now. I eat a healthy diet (which I never could with lap-band), avoid simple sugars (I've been having issues with reactive hypoglycemia and I'm also a "dumper") and I continue to exercise 5-6 days/week as I've done for the past 12 years. My advice is to not worry about charts and BMI's. See where you're body leads you and think of the long game. We know that dieting and restriction doesn't work in the long term and usually eventually leads to regain. You need to find a way of eating that is liveable for you.
  6. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from Orchids&Dragons in How often do you weigh yourself?   
    I weighed once a week in the early months when weight loss is relatively quick. I now weigh once every 2 weeks now that I'm in the home stretch and weight loss is slow. Once I'm at goal, I plan to weigh monthly. I have a long, uneasy history with the scale and I find the less focus placed on it, the better.
  7. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from Orchids&Dragons in How often do you weigh yourself?   
    I weighed once a week in the early months when weight loss is relatively quick. I now weigh once every 2 weeks now that I'm in the home stretch and weight loss is slow. Once I'm at goal, I plan to weigh monthly. I have a long, uneasy history with the scale and I find the less focus placed on it, the better.
  8. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from Orchids&Dragons in How often do you weigh yourself?   
    I weighed once a week in the early months when weight loss is relatively quick. I now weigh once every 2 weeks now that I'm in the home stretch and weight loss is slow. Once I'm at goal, I plan to weigh monthly. I have a long, uneasy history with the scale and I find the less focus placed on it, the better.
  9. Thanks
    knormlaver got a reaction from Redmaxx in Frustrated   
    I hear ya, Redmaxx. Avoiding/delaying the onset of DMII was also my main reason for having this surgery. I was on metformin for PCOS and prediabetes prior to surgery. I was able to come off the metformin briefly after surgery, but then started having significant issues with reactive hypoglycemia. Now I'm on two meds to help control this and my diet is even more restricted than if I had diabetes!! Very frustrated and leading me to question my choice. However, in your case it demonstrates that weight isn't the only factor in DMII. Hang in there!
  10. Thanks
    knormlaver got a reaction from Healthy_life2 in Hypoglycemia after Bypass?   
    If I have carbs of any kind, my blood sugar will shoot up above 10 mmol/l because of the rapid emptying into my small intestine. This then causes an over production of insulin leading to a crash as low as 2.2 mmol/l within a couple of hours. The glucobay helps slow the absorption of carbohydrates reducing spikes and then consequently reducing lows. My sugars are a lot better now; however, the meds don't do much if I have any simple sugars (ie. I had a piece of cake at my parents' anniversary and still got the spike and felt awful, but I didn't go as low as I once would have). One of the frustrating things is that when this was out of control, my weight loss stalled majorly for a couple of months. This was because my body was pumping out insulin which is responsible for storing fat. Since I've been on the meds, I've started losing again. I'm about 10 pounds or so away from goal. I'm still worried about the future as if it's this bad now, I worry about 1-2 years from now; however, the endochrinologist said that dumping syndrome can improve with time so this could also settle down. We really don't know as research in this area is still in its infancy.
  11. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from kristenreins in MGB or RNY?   
    I had MGB in Canada in Sept/17. I was told that it was a less invasive surgery than RNY (one anastomosis vs 2) with fewer surgical complications, but similar outcomes to RNY. I had mine as a revision surgery 9 months after having my Lap-band removed. I lost steady in the first 3-4 months, but then slowed due to issues with hypoglycemia related to late dumping syndrome (blood sugar was spiking immediately after eating any carbs then dropping rapidly. Too much insulin production = poor weight loss.) Now that I'm getting this under control with medication, I'm losing again (only 14 pounds from goal). However, taking into account these complications, if I had to do it all over again, I think I would have gotten the sleeve.
  12. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from L. Knight in How Much Did/Do You Eat Post Bypass at Various Milestones   
    Thanks! I think the pouch size can depend on the surgeon's preference. Also, I was originally considering a sleeve and one thing he mentioned is that you're generally able to eat more with the mini-gastric bypass in comparison. Honestly, I could do almost a cup of solid food at about a month out which initially had me worried, but my capacity has stayed fairly constant. Definitely depends on what I eat. Solid Proteins certainly fill me up faster, but I'm also pleased that I can eat a good size portion of salad (one of the many things I could not tolerate at all during my 10 years with the Lap-band). My diet is much more balanced and sustainable this time around. Like most people, diets do not work for me. What I've got going on now feels like a reasonable, realistic, long term way of eating.
  13. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from L. Knight in How Much Did/Do You Eat Post Bypass at Various Milestones   
    Thanks! I think the pouch size can depend on the surgeon's preference. Also, I was originally considering a sleeve and one thing he mentioned is that you're generally able to eat more with the mini-gastric bypass in comparison. Honestly, I could do almost a cup of solid food at about a month out which initially had me worried, but my capacity has stayed fairly constant. Definitely depends on what I eat. Solid Proteins certainly fill me up faster, but I'm also pleased that I can eat a good size portion of salad (one of the many things I could not tolerate at all during my 10 years with the Lap-band). My diet is much more balanced and sustainable this time around. Like most people, diets do not work for me. What I've got going on now feels like a reasonable, realistic, long term way of eating.
  14. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from FluffyChix in How Much Did/Do You Eat Post Bypass at Various Milestones   
    I did the usual progression of liquids, full fluids, purees and soft food for the first 4 wks, but otherwise started eating fairly normally by a month out (60-80g Protein, low carb etc). My surgeon gave me a fairly "generous" pouch that allows me to eat about a cup of food comfortably. At first I was worried as I was used to being way more restricted when a had my Lap-Band; however, the weight is coming off (I'm 6 mos out and I only have another 15lbs or so to make my goal) and I don't have that ripped off feeling after meals that I did with the Lap-Band.
  15. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from readyforachange66502 in Stalls..   
    I had MGB at the end of September and did fairly well the first 3 months and then didn't lose much for a about a month despite my best efforts (eating well, exercising lots). I was starting to think maybe I'd hit my set point as I was at the weight I'd been for many years before I had to have my Lap-band removed. But low and behold, the scale started moving again last week. I did wind up going back to the Protein Shakes in the morning to help me get the Protein in (I was slipping a bit with this), so this may have tipped the balance. I agree: stay away from the scale. I only weigh myself a maximum of once per week. And I skip the weekly weigh in around my period!
  16. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from readyforachange66502 in Stalls..   
    I had MGB at the end of September and did fairly well the first 3 months and then didn't lose much for a about a month despite my best efforts (eating well, exercising lots). I was starting to think maybe I'd hit my set point as I was at the weight I'd been for many years before I had to have my Lap-band removed. But low and behold, the scale started moving again last week. I did wind up going back to the Protein Shakes in the morning to help me get the Protein in (I was slipping a bit with this), so this may have tipped the balance. I agree: stay away from the scale. I only weigh myself a maximum of once per week. And I skip the weekly weigh in around my period!
  17. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from readyforachange66502 in Stalls..   
    I had MGB at the end of September and did fairly well the first 3 months and then didn't lose much for a about a month despite my best efforts (eating well, exercising lots). I was starting to think maybe I'd hit my set point as I was at the weight I'd been for many years before I had to have my Lap-band removed. But low and behold, the scale started moving again last week. I did wind up going back to the Protein Shakes in the morning to help me get the Protein in (I was slipping a bit with this), so this may have tipped the balance. I agree: stay away from the scale. I only weigh myself a maximum of once per week. And I skip the weekly weigh in around my period!
  18. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from enigma_007 in It’s possible   
    Thank you both for posting these. I think this provides a more realistic picture of how the weight comes off. Also, it's great how it shows the difference between the rate of loss of those in higher and lower weight ranges. I think some patients in the lower 200 range find themselves disappointed or discouraged when they're are not losing at the same rate as another in the 400lb range. However, losing at that same rate is not the norm and in general, the body adjusts to the loss better when it isn't too rapid (especially those who are a little older with less elastic skin). Patience is rewarded.
  19. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from Alex Brecher in Lap-Band to Bypass - What Do You Wish You Would Have Been Told?   
    I'd had my Lap-Band 10 years when I had it removed last year. It had become too tight even without the Fluid. I'd maintained 60 of my 80 lb loss for 8 years, but if I'm honest, I was miserable with that thing. Instead of being disappointed when I was told it needed to be removed, I was relieved. I don't think I would have come to that decision myself as I was so afraid of gaining it back. Predictably, in less than a year, I'd put on 50lbs despite eating relatively little and upping my exercise frequency. I had a mini-gastric bypass almost 3 months ago and I'm really pleased so far with how things are going. The weight isn't flying off, but the loss is steady (I've lost 45 of the 70lbs I'd like to lose). I can eat more than with the band (about a cup), so I don't feel ripped off all the time. I seldom vomit and when I get full, it's gradual and feels natural. I tolerate most foods, so my diet is way more balanced and varied. I do experience dumping which is unpleasant, but I'm learning its triggers (sugar, high GI carbs etc) and am avoiding those foods. As I was an insulin resistant "sugar enthusiast," this is not necessarily a bad thing. I'm developing some aversions to sweets and therefore, don't really feel all that tempted or deprived (even at Christmas!). All in all, I think you will be really happy with your choice and only regret not doing it in the first place. Good luck!
  20. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from enigma_007 in It’s possible   
    Thank you both for posting these. I think this provides a more realistic picture of how the weight comes off. Also, it's great how it shows the difference between the rate of loss of those in higher and lower weight ranges. I think some patients in the lower 200 range find themselves disappointed or discouraged when they're are not losing at the same rate as another in the 400lb range. However, losing at that same rate is not the norm and in general, the body adjusts to the loss better when it isn't too rapid (especially those who are a little older with less elastic skin). Patience is rewarded.
  21. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from Alex Brecher in Lap-Band to Bypass - What Do You Wish You Would Have Been Told?   
    I'd had my Lap-Band 10 years when I had it removed last year. It had become too tight even without the Fluid. I'd maintained 60 of my 80 lb loss for 8 years, but if I'm honest, I was miserable with that thing. Instead of being disappointed when I was told it needed to be removed, I was relieved. I don't think I would have come to that decision myself as I was so afraid of gaining it back. Predictably, in less than a year, I'd put on 50lbs despite eating relatively little and upping my exercise frequency. I had a mini-gastric bypass almost 3 months ago and I'm really pleased so far with how things are going. The weight isn't flying off, but the loss is steady (I've lost 45 of the 70lbs I'd like to lose). I can eat more than with the band (about a cup), so I don't feel ripped off all the time. I seldom vomit and when I get full, it's gradual and feels natural. I tolerate most foods, so my diet is way more balanced and varied. I do experience dumping which is unpleasant, but I'm learning its triggers (sugar, high GI carbs etc) and am avoiding those foods. As I was an insulin resistant "sugar enthusiast," this is not necessarily a bad thing. I'm developing some aversions to sweets and therefore, don't really feel all that tempted or deprived (even at Christmas!). All in all, I think you will be really happy with your choice and only regret not doing it in the first place. Good luck!
  22. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from Alex Brecher in Lap-Band to Bypass - What Do You Wish You Would Have Been Told?   
    I'd had my Lap-Band 10 years when I had it removed last year. It had become too tight even without the Fluid. I'd maintained 60 of my 80 lb loss for 8 years, but if I'm honest, I was miserable with that thing. Instead of being disappointed when I was told it needed to be removed, I was relieved. I don't think I would have come to that decision myself as I was so afraid of gaining it back. Predictably, in less than a year, I'd put on 50lbs despite eating relatively little and upping my exercise frequency. I had a mini-gastric bypass almost 3 months ago and I'm really pleased so far with how things are going. The weight isn't flying off, but the loss is steady (I've lost 45 of the 70lbs I'd like to lose). I can eat more than with the band (about a cup), so I don't feel ripped off all the time. I seldom vomit and when I get full, it's gradual and feels natural. I tolerate most foods, so my diet is way more balanced and varied. I do experience dumping which is unpleasant, but I'm learning its triggers (sugar, high GI carbs etc) and am avoiding those foods. As I was an insulin resistant "sugar enthusiast," this is not necessarily a bad thing. I'm developing some aversions to sweets and therefore, don't really feel all that tempted or deprived (even at Christmas!). All in all, I think you will be really happy with your choice and only regret not doing it in the first place. Good luck!
  23. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from enigma_007 in It’s possible   
    Thank you both for posting these. I think this provides a more realistic picture of how the weight comes off. Also, it's great how it shows the difference between the rate of loss of those in higher and lower weight ranges. I think some patients in the lower 200 range find themselves disappointed or discouraged when they're are not losing at the same rate as another in the 400lb range. However, losing at that same rate is not the norm and in general, the body adjusts to the loss better when it isn't too rapid (especially those who are a little older with less elastic skin). Patience is rewarded.
  24. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from Sunnyday25 in My first story moving on to a second story   
    Hi, I just had a mini gastric bypass revision last week. So far so good. I had my lap-band in for 10 yrs and kept about 55 of my 75lb loss off. But I never did get that sweet spot and my eating life was miserable all that time. It wasn’t until the band
    really started to malfunction (ie I could only barely tolerate fluids) that I said enough is enough and had it removed. Not surprisingly I gained back all of my weight in 10 mos despite eating right and exercising 5 days per week. I had to pay for both surgeries myself, but wish I’d done the bypass in the first place. I wish you well.


  25. Like
    knormlaver got a reaction from sharon232 in Lap-Band to Mini Gastric Bypass Revision   
    Garveydanielle : Mini gastric bypass is similar to roux en y bypass, where the stomach size is reduced; however, the intestinal bypass itself differs in that it only has one anastomosis vs 2 two. The studies show the results are similar to traditional rny, but with fewer surgical complications and faster recovery. It's still considered a newer surgery and not all docs are doing them yet.

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